9/26/2016

Life skills: how to break bad habits

Although many people believe that once you get used to doing something you can never stop and that some habits are impossible to break, in reality it isn't hard at all to break a habit! In my personal experience breaking a habit is actually one of the easier life tasks. Popular psychology is telling us that you need 20 days to form new patterns and change a habit. I don't think you should focus on days and time, you should rather focus on changing your approach to certain things. Here are some of my tips for breaking bad habits.

1. Know why you are doing it

Like always in life, you'll need motivation to accomplish something. Think why you want to get rid of a habit rather than how hard it is. For example, you want to start going to bed earlier. Today that's pretty hard, there is always a TV show to watch or an app to check and you easily end up going to bed at 4 AM. Try focusing on why you want to go to bed earlier. You'll be well rested, more productive and lest tired. Think about that instead of how fun it will be to watch that other episode (which often turns into a season).

2. Don't give up easily

I wish this is something people told me when I tried to quit smoking without success for thousand times. And that is: the more you fail the most likely you are to succeed. I know this sounds crazy, but it works! Before, when I was quiting smoking if I gave up after couple of days of not smoking and lit up a cigarette I would think I am a failure and continue smoking. But, what you should do is just continue trying after that one failure and keep on trying until you finally succeed.

3. Think positively about the change

When you are trying to change your life, you have to think that change will be good for you in order to make it happen. Don't think how hard it will be or how much effort you'll need to make. Focus on the good things that change will bring. If you are trying to eat healthier you'll start thinking about all the junk food and candy you are missing out, how you won't be able to eat all of your favourite sweets. Instead, think of all the benefits of healthy food and how beneficial it is to your body.